# Fungal Acne Explained: Why Nothing You're Using Is Working

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skin-real-5691569/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-you-re-using-is-working
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skin-real-5691569/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-you-re-using-is-working.md
Podcast: [The Skin Real ®](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skin-real-5691569)
Published: 2026-06-20T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://theskinreal.podbean.com/e/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-youre-using-is-working/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/h44q4jhuygtq24ew/Fungal_acne_Audio8l7xq.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-skin-real-5691569/episodes/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-you-re-using-is-working
Duration seconds: 1225

## Resource

Fungal acne is everywhere on social media, but most people are treating it completely wrong. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down what fungal acne actually is: an overgrowth of malassezia yeast, not bacteria, and not true acne at all. She explains why standard acne treatments often fail, who's most at risk (think sweaty workouts, humid climates, tight clothing, and recent antibiotic use), and how to tell it apart from regular acne by looking at itch, uniformity, and the absence of blackheads or whiteheads. Dr. Mina walks through her go-to over-the-counter arsenal, including antifungal shampoos, sulfur washes, salicylic acid, and niacinamide, plus when it's time to see a dermatologist for prescription-strength options. She also shares the daily habits that keep flares from coming back. If you've been fighting stubborn bumps that just won't clear, this episode might finally explain why. In this episode: 0:00 — Introduction to Fungal Acne 0:43 — Welcome to The Skin Real 1:12 — What Is Fungal Acne, Really? 2:35 — How Fungal Acne Connects to Dandruff and Tinea Versicolor 3:30 — Why Standard Acne Treatments Don't Work 4:00 — Who's Most at Risk for Fungal Acne 5:50 — Antibiotics, Immunocompromise, and Yeast Overgrowth 7:10 — How to Spot Fungal Acne vs. Regular Acne 9:00 — Sponsor Break: Regimen Pro 9:50 — Over-the-Counter Treatment: Antifungal Shampoos 11:40 — Sulfur Washes for Fungal Acne and Acne 13:00 — Salicylic Acid and Why It Works So Well 14:50 — Niacinamide as a Supportive Ingredient 15:20 — When to See a Dermatologist 16:30 — Will Fungal Acne Come Back? 17:30 — Prevention Habits and Maintenance Routine 19:10 — Final Thoughts and Closing Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussio…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-skin-real-5691569/episodes/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-you-re-using-is-working/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-skin-real-5691569/fungal-acne-explained-why-nothing-you-re-using-is-working.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.